By Paul Hailey

Psalm 92:14—"They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing."

Our denomination is fortunate to have three remarkable ladies who have passed the century mark and continue to bear fruits of righteousness. They have keen memories of the days of horse and buggy, wood stoves, and one-room schoolhouses. Life was simpler then, before computers, television, and even before automobiles were common.

These ladies connect us with the past with many stories to tell, but more importantly, as great, great-grandmothers with numerous descendants, they are well-qualified to give advice to younger people. They may be out-of-date with modern technology, but not out-of-date with what is important in life.

Margaret (Meg) Glasgow lives in Mays Landing, New Jersey, with her son Roy, who put on a gala celebration on March 4, 2007 for her 100th birthday. Meg was radiant as many loving friends and relatives surrounded her with hugs and praise. Someone remarked, "She made an impression wherever she went," mentioning her love, hospitality, humor, and generosity. She continues to make an impression by entertaining neighbors in her home, preparing elaborate meals and her very popular cookies, and hosting card parties. She knits caps for neighbors and newborn babies, and crochets mats for pots. She also reads, and feeds squirrels in her yard.

Meg was born in Connecticut, and remembers starting kindergarten in 1911, living on a farm and finishing her education in a one-room schoolhouse. She married in 1929 and began raising four children. She has worked as a cook and caterer. Meg has seen much of the world, traveling to numerous countries and all 50 states of the United States.

Meg became a Christian at 14, when she was baptized in a river. She joined our denomination in 1976, and continued to attend services in Portland, Oregon, until moving to New Jersey in 2000. Distance now keeps her from services, but she remains in touch and writes many letters. She says her faith has increased over the years, and she continues to read the Bible.

Meg’s earliest memories include her baby brother dying of pneumonia, her first automobile ride, the one-room schoolhouse, and at age 4, her black and white cat that she taught to do tricks. Remembering both World Wars, she comments, "They were both to end all wars. Did they?"

Concerning society today, Meg says, "I try hard not to think very much about it. It sure isn’t like it was when I was a young girl." Her advice for young people: "Be sure to get a good education. Start by paying attention in elementary, also high school, as that is where your adult education starts. Read and understand what you read."

Mary Koehler turned 100 on February 13, 2007. She remains active in the Beaumont, California church, and recently gave special music, singing "How Great Thou Art."

Her life began in Antwerp, Belgium. She was playing outside with her two brothers the day World War I broke out in Belgium. Suddenly planes were flying overhead, bombs falling and shells bursting nearby. She didn’t understand what was happening, but remembers her mother calling for the children to come inside.

The family walked to reach a place where they could be smuggled into Holland with other refugees. They used a large wooden table turned upside down and covered in oil cloth, making a small boat, to cross the river to Holland. A very tense moment occurred when Mary’s mother slipped as she stepped ashore. German soldiers were nearby, but the family was undetected. They were later able to board a ship to England.

After the war, the family returned to Belgium briefly, but moved to Detroit and then to Canada to work in tobacco fields. At age 14 Mary enjoyed driving the horse-drawn tobacco planter. They moved back to Detroit, then to California in 1927, where she married Rahwald Groskopt. They had two children. Mary enjoys telling that her daughter Jeanette did not have much hair as an infant. Mary clipped some of her own hair and sewed it onto the edge of Jeanette’s baby bonnet. People then commented on Jeanette’s pretty hair!

She was baptized in 1965, attending the San Diego congregation, where she sang in the choir. Rahwald died in 1966. In 1967 she married Victor Berghofer, but became a widow again when he died in 1974. In 1987 Mary and Will Koehler met at church and married later that year, living in Carlsbad, California. Will passed away in 2000.

Mary has traveled to many places, including Hawaii, British Columbia, Israel, Jordan, several Mediterranean islands, and to Germany in 2003.

Mary commented that her early life was very hard because of the war, being displaced, learning English, little schooling, and working at age 14. About living a long life, Mary says she "did nothing but work; I worked all the time." About being 100, she responded with a smile, "Well, I can’t do anything about it! It is wonderful and I am very thankful to be alive and to keep learning."

Her advice to young people is, "Learn to behave and do not get into any trouble. Stay in school. Listen to your parents. Always pray and always go to church." To live a long and productive Christian life, she advises, "I would encourage people to be involved in every aspect of their local church even if it means traveling a distance to be with friends."

Mary says her faith has increased over the years, and she continues to learn more each week. Pastor Tom Ecker and wife Alberta conduct a bi-weekly Bible study at Mary’s residence in an assisted care complex. Tom says this about Mary, "She is a very loyal and faithful church member. She is called the ‘Candy Lady’ at church because she gives out hard candy to everyone. She also sits on the Advisory Council and contributes ideas. She brings humor and lots of life to any occasion."

Dorothy Wolfe lives in Aldergrove, British Columbia, with her son Don. She was born July 1,1906, in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. At 101 she is "sharp as a pin," and regularly attends the Abbotsford church.

In her early life they didn’t have electricity, washing machine, drier, fridge, vacuum, TV, microwave, or computers. Also, no running water, flush toilets, showers or bathtubs. They bathed using a basin, and washed clothes with a scrub-board. They heated the house with a wood stove. If the fire went out at night, drinking water and milk sometimes froze.

Dorothy usually walked 3½ miles to a one-room schoolhouse, but stayed home when the winter temperatures dropped to 40 or 50 degrees below zero. But when she was 9 or 10, she would harness her horse and hitch it to a sled to go to school. She would heat a rock in the oven, put it under her feet in the sled and cover up with a blanket to avoid freezing.

Dorothy’s chores included lighting the fire, milking a cow, rounding up some cattle, and doing much of the housework. Asked about toys, she remembers a doll, a skipping rope, a spinning top, and some wooden blocks shared with her brother.

Her parents had a black Ford when she was about 14. The roads were dirt, with cars going about 30 miles per hour. Her mother would tell her dad that he was going too fast and would hold onto the handle all the way.

Dorothy’s greatest adventure was at age 92 when she flew to England to meet her half-brother for the first time and about 60 other relatives. At age 99 she survived surgery for cancer, but later broke her hip. She now gets around with a walker. Her hobbies have included gardening, crocheting, sewing and various crafts. Dorothy enjoys going to church. She comments, "My hearing is poor, but I love the fellowship."

Her advice for teenagers is, "Don’t do things that would get you into trouble. Be honest. Don’t take up drinking and smoking, as they are not good for you." She attributes her long life to hard work, living a good Christian life, eating home-grown food, and a positive attitude.

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Eva and Tia Martens and Zach Frasier of the Portland, Oregon, congregation asked some questions of Meg Glasgow. Mary Koehler was interviewed by Alex Belford, 14, of the Beaumont church. Dorothy Wolfe was interviewed by five children of the Pennington family, Alex 15, Keeley 14, Braden 13, Meagan 8, and Caleb 6.

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